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Who is Frank Fletcher?

Frank Fletcher Jr. inducted into the Walton Business Hall of Fame at the University of Arkansas.

Frank Fletcher Jr. has built a still-growing string of 20 ultra-successful enterprises in a variety of industries by recognizing the potential in a wide range of situations and anticipating trends to pioneer new businesses.

Born in Little Rock, Fletcher was adopted by Frank and Aline Fletcher as a baby. He was raised on a farm in Tamo, Ark., which at that time had a population of five. Frank went to grade school in Grady, where he was named to the All State basketball team in 8th and 9th grades. At 6-foot-4 when he was 14 years old, Frank went on to play for the Pine Bluff High School team. A fortuitous move in many ways for Fletcher, not the least of which was meeting Judy Hamm, captain of the cheerleading squad, who would later become his wife. Frank went to the University of Arkansas and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Judy went to Henderson, where she would earn a teaching degree. He and Judy have two children, Chris and Jerilynn. Chris and his wife Lisa have given Frank and Judy three grandsons: Jacob, Sam and Adam. After earning a bachelor of science in business administration in 1964, Fletcher joined the Army. After the Army, he worked nights at Shakey's Pizza Parlor and days at Worthen Bank Trust department while Judy taught 12th grade at North Little Rock High School. In 1967, Fletcher landed a job with the DuPont Paint Co., which is how he met Sam Walton at Walmart number two in Harrison, AR. After negotiating with Walton about a $1,500 purchase, Fletcher completed a deal for Walmart to buy 300 gallons of paint. That began a relationship that would last for many years and lead Fletcher down many successful business paths. About two years after the paint deal, Walton called Fletcher and asked him resign from DuPont and become a manufacturer's representative for Walmart. Fletcher excelled at being a Walmart rep, but after eight years at that, Walton called Frank into his office and told him Walmart was doing away with manufacturers reps and that Fletcher would be out of a job. Walton told Fletcher all the reps were being terminated and that all factories would be house accounts. Walton advised Fletcher to go back to Little Rock and rent a garage and manufacture something. He said if the products were good, Walmart would put it in its stores. Fletcher took the advice and started Cheyenne/Silverwood Industries. With modest garage space, the company started making lamps, mirrors and framed art, which sold not only to Walmart but to many companies such as Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sam's Club, Costco and other. Fletcher's startup grew to become the largest lamp company in the United States. Fletcher expanded manufacturing into Taiwan and then mainland China and grew this business to $100 million-plus in annual sales before selling the company in December 2010. But this was not Fletcher's only enterprise over this time period. He also had started Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, Benihana's Japanese Steakhouse, Riverfront Steakhouse, The Fletcher Realty Company, Fletcher Furs and 13 car dealerships including Dodge Chrysler Jeep in four cities, Honda in two cities, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Ford, Kia in two cities, Nissan, Toyota and a new store in Panama City. Now, Fletcher Companies ranks in top 100 Car Dealers in USA. Fletcher is often asked why he has interests in so many varied businesses and industries. His explanation goes way back to his days dealing with Walmart. He says, "Why so much diversity? Mr. Walton taught me to never have all your marbles in one bag." Starting and running so many diverse businesses has resulted in a variety of awards and recognitions over Fletcher's business career. He was named Walmart's "Vendor of the Year" three times and was given the Promise of Hope Endowment Award in 1996. The Walton College honored him as entrepreneur of the year in 2000, and his restaurant was named Benihana Franchise of the Year (Worldwide) for 2003. He was recognized in 2011 as Sales and Marketing Executives International Arkansas Top Manager of the Year. He is known throughout the business community as being a founder of the Students Acquiring Knowledge through Experience (S.A.K.E.) program at the Walton College, which gives college students real-life, hands-on exposure to business applications and issues to go along with what they are learning in their classes. He has given countless hours of his time to speak to classes and student groups at the Walton College and the University of Arkansas, with leaders of S.A.K.E. lauding him as "our motivational leader and our practical guide." Fletcher also organized and started the "Stuff The Truck" charity, is a major contributor to Easter Seals and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has contributed millions of dollars for the construction of churches in the state. He has given more than $100,000 to Toys for Tots in recent years. He also was one of the major contributors to the construction of a new Kappa Sigma fraternity house on the University of Arkansas campus. Fletcher is a major contributor to UALR and his Alma Mater University of Arkansas Razorback Foundation. Fletcher has been honored many times for his civic and charitable work. Those honors include the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Citizens Achievement Award for 2000, American Red Cross awards, the Pulaski County Humane Society Citizen of Hope Award and many others. He also is an active thoroughbred horse owner and breeder with Rocket Horse Racing Corp., which annually enters horses at top tracks such as Oaklawn Park, Churchill Downs, Remington Park, Arlington Park and others. He has placed third in Arkansas Derby and 2010 had Rocket Twenty One in the Breeder's Cup.

The Fletcher Mission

To build our Auto Group one customer at a time by offering unparalleled customer service in our sales and service departments, building and supporting the communities we live, work, and play in, and by hiring and building leaders through training, example, and cultivating an environment of mutual respect and unlimited opportunity for all our associates.

Our Community CommitmentThe Fletcher Auto Group is dedicated to each community where we have a dealership by supporting charities, civic organizations, and schools where our people and customers live and work. Frank Fletcher along with Jerry Jones founded S.A.K. E. (Students Acquiring Knowledge through Enterprise) a student-run, non-profit business operated through the University of Arkansas' Sam M. Walton College of Business. Some of our other beneficiaries are University of Arkansas, Toys for Tots, Make A Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, Arkansas Sports Hall Of Fame, March Of Dimes, Youth Home, and many others.

Fletcher Facts

Frank Fletcher is a veteran of the U.S. Army and proud to have served in the U. S. Army for 6 years. He took his basic training in Ft. Polk, Louisiana.

Frank's family includes his high school sweetheart/wife Judy, Two Children, Chris & Jerilynn and three grandchildren, Jacob, Sam & Adam.

Frank Fletcher and his family own several race horses. All are named after his dog, Rocket.

Frank Fletcher is a fraternity brother of Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones and is still close friends with him today.

Little Known Fletcher Fact - Frank was 6'4 in the seventh grade and played for the State Champion Basketball team in Grady, Ark and made the All State Basketball Team two years in Junior High.